From our archives:

85 years ago

Sir John Hunt had been re-elected chairman of the Governors of Bootham Park, York, for the 19th time.

Mr Alfred Proctor who had put forward Sir John for re-election, said Sir John had filled the post with great advantage to the institution for the past 18 years, and Bootham Park was fortunate to have him to rule over its destinies.

The Lord Mayor Alderman Wragge also whole-heartily endorsed the election and re-elected Mr Procter as vice-chairman.

The landlady of the Three Mustgetheres, St Martin’s Lane, York, was keeping a heavily guarded secret, the names of three men who had drawn a £100 consolation prize in the Grand National’s Irish sweep stake.

Talking to a “Yorkshire Herald” representative she replied that she had promised to keep the three names a close secret, as the men would be visiting York on Monday.

50 years ago

Five Lancaster students had been cleared at York Magistrates after a “War of the Roses” stunt that turned sour, after pleading not guilty to stealing the civic flag from on top of the Mansion House.

The chairman of the bench stopped the case saying he was satisfied there was no case to answer on the joint charge of stealing, as the flag had been taken to help publicise Lancaster Rag Week.

The Hollies had been asked to leave a hotel at Monk Fryston, near Selby, after management had not appreciated they would be putting up one of Britain’s top pop groups, when they accepted the seven-place booking.

Instead the Hollies moved on to one of Leeds’ top hotels, The Queen’s.

And Pocklington School presented the melodrama Maria Martin, for a three night run.

20 years ago

A controversial televised debate on the future of the Royal Family had been condemned as ‘Out of control’ by television watchdogs.

The programme ‘Monarchy The Nation Decides’, provoked widespread outcry after it was screened on ITV, receiving 53 complaints, including accusations of bias and poor presentation.

And Ryedale had a new chess whizzkid nine-year-old Gawain Jones, of Gilling East, near Helmsley, who had just become the British under-eight and under-10 chess champion.

The Ampleforth College Junior School student's next move was the world championships in Cannes, if the British Chess Federation would allow someone from the under-10s class to compete.